Gun sight



k 33-241. OR 217069335 SR April 19, 1955 DHZHEWH mum H. MUNSEY 2,706,335

. GUN SIGHT Filed Sept. 1, 1949 INVENTOR Herbert hf fiiunsey BY QM, M,MV 65% ATTORNEYS United States Patent GUN SIGHT Herbert H. Munsey,Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,656

6 Claims. (CI. 33-47) My invention relates to improvements in gunsighting devices such as sights for firearms and the like.

Heretofore firearm front sights for example have been most commonly ofthe metal bead or bar types; the sectional diameter of the bead or barhaving been varied in accord with different barrel lengths and needs forobtaining maximum visibility for aiming, and n accordance withimprovements in rear or receiver s1ghts. Although it has been theconstant concern and ob ective of gun designers and users to developsmaller size beads that may still be readily seen over or through therear sight, very little in the way of improvements over the originaliron bead type sights have actually been attained prior to the presentinvention. Prior art efforts in this direction have resulted inimprovements such as the gold and ivory tipped beads. Even lightreflectors have been devised for use in conjunction with sight beads inan effort to render them more readily visible. It is of course wellknown that in order to obtain maximum accuracy of aim it is necessary tohave a front sight bead as small in diameter as possible, but the beadmust be large enough to be effectively visible through the rear sighteven under adverse light conditions. Hence, despite the aforesaidimprovements, it has seldom been practicable heretofore to make suchbeads smaller than of an inch in diameter due to the inability of thegunner to readily pick up smaller size prior type front sight beads fromtarget background when viewed through the rear or receiver sight.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide animproved front sight device of the bead or bar type which for any givensize is more readily distinguishable from the field of vision backgroundthan any presently known bead, and which practicably may be formed ofsubstantially smaller sectional size.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved gun sight beadwhich is of improved visibility and adapted to quicker as well as finersighting.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new front sight beadwhich may be readily adapted to virtually all types of present frontsight holders with minimum elfort.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved sight beadformed of novel material, so arranged as to be illuminated in a novelmanner and likewise be protected against damage and/or deformation byexternal forces and/or temperature changes and the like.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be readily apparentfrom the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a gun barrel mounting a frontsight of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another form of the sight deviceof the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of still another form of the sightdevice;

Fig. 5 is a rear fragmentary view of a barrel type front sight embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the front sight of the shotgun type; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the sight of Fig. 6.

My invention broadly contemplates a sight bead formed of material whichinherently is responsive to light and which has internally thereof alight carrying and focusing characteristic, which when uniquely focusedresults in projecting accumulated light onto a focal plane portionthereof in a manner causing said portion to appear as an intenselybrilliant surface even under minimum lighting conditions. Such materialmay be plastic of the acrylic type such as methyl-methacrylate with aluminous dye added, or of the luminescent nylon type; said materialbeing so shaped and mounted as to provide a sight bead of improvedbrilliancy and smaller size than heretofore practicable, therebypermitting the gunner to draw a finer bead on his target with lesseffort and with greatly increased speed than possible with present daysights. Thus, normal rate aiming even under adverse light conditions maybe accomplished with less strain on the gunner, and snap shooting ofgreatly improved accuracy is obtainable.

Plastics of the acrylic type in particular are characterized by beingable to pipe light, and thus when a rod of such material is viewed fromone end it appears to be illuminated by light transmitted through therod from the other end and the sides thereof. The addition of certainvivid luminescent dyes well known in the plastic art heighten thebrilliancy of and contrastability of the illumination effect; and it isa further notable characteristic of the phenomenon that the brillianceat the viewed end of the luminescent plastic piece is sharply defined bythe outer limits of the plastic form, thus giving a sharply defined areaof intense colored light without blurring at the edges thereof, whichfurther assists in obtaining accurate, quick aim.

Thus, a sight bead formed of a material having the aforesaidcharacteristics when suitably shaped for illumination, may be madesmaller in size and yet be brighter and more easily viewed in contrastto background obects or the target than any other previously used sightbead. In order to maintain its dimension and position this plastic beadmust include protective means against physical damage and/ordeformations due to temperature changes to avoid inaccuracy of aim dueto physical disruption of the bead. Thus, the invention furthercontemplates an improved provision for gathering and introducing lightinto the sight bead member while at the same time protecting the latteragainst physical damage.

As illustrated in the drawing in Figs. 1-2, the inventron may beembodied in a front bead type gun sight which is shown as being mountedupon the front end of a gun barrel 10 by means of a conventional sightbase 12 formed with a transverse dove tail slide 14. The sight bodyportion 16 may of course be of any desired sectional form and is shownas being provided with a dove ta 1l base portion 18 for slipfitttedmounting Within the slide portion 14 of the base 12. However, it will beappreciated that the sight may be of any other form, such as of theblade or insert type. The sight body portion 16 is illustrated asincluding along its upper edge a cylindrical section 20 which is boredto receive in pressfitted relation therein a bar of luminescent plasticdesignated 2 2 of somewhat longer dimension than said cyllHCllC lCalsection; the parts being arranged so that the longitudinal axis of theplastic bar is disposed substantlally parallel to the gun bore. Thus,the gunner sees only the rear end or head portion 25 of the plastic barthrough the rear sight; the metal shell portion 20 of the sight bodyacting to protect the plastic device against physical blows and/ortemperature change deformation while permitting the plastic device toextend therefrom at its front and rear ends.

The front end portion 26 of the plastic bar is preferably of convex orrounded form so as to function as a light gathering lens element forbringing into the plastic bar 22 as much light as possible fromexternally thereof. On the other hand, the rear end portion 25 of thesight bead is substantially flat, but preferably slightly concave so asto function as a projection or focal plane surface upon which the lightwhich is piped through the plastic bar is focused for viewing throughthe rear sight device, as is indicated at 28. Thus, it will beappreciated that under all light conditions the front sight bead willoperate to gather and focus an accumulation of light of brilliant hueinto view through the rear sight; and that therefore the front sightbead may be constructed of smaller profile size than heretofore so thatthe user may quickly draw a finer bead upon the target. Whereas theconstruction of Figs. l-2 may comprise an original fabrication in theform shown, it will of course be understood that a similar device mightbe constructed by simply drilling the bead portion of a conventionalsmall sectional size iron sight so as to thereby provide the necessarysocket for insertion of the plastic bead member.

Fig. 3 illustrates the rear view of another form of front sight bead ofthe invention, wherein the body portion 30 of the sight piece isillustrated as mounting a triangularly sectioned luminescent plasticbead bar 32. Thus, the apex edge portion of the bead bar provides anextremely fine point type bead to be lined up with the target; thebroader base portion of the bead 32 functloning to direct the eyesighttoward the sighting apex edge thereof. The elements 30, 32 may be formedto be coextensive in length; or either one may be longer than the other,as preferred. Whereas, in Fig. 3 the sight bead 32 is illustrated asbeing formed separately from the sight body 30, the sight body and beadportions 3032 may be integrally formed from a single piece ofluminescent plastic material which will be preferably coated at allsides thereof except for a window portion such as is illustrated at 32with some opaque dull black pa1nt or the like so as to provide a reducedsize brilliant sighting area.

Fig. 4 illustrates in side elevation a modification of the form of frontsight illustrated by Figs. 1-2; in Fig. 4 the sight body 34 beingsurmounted by a bored shell portion 36 which corresponds to the shellportion 20 of Figs. 1-2. However, in the case of Fig. 4, the shellportion 36 is cut away as indicated at 38 so as to provide a windowthrough which additional light from externally of the device may gainaccess to a substantial portion of the top and sides of the luminescentplastic bead member 40. Also, as in the case of Figs. 1-2, the front endportion of the bead 40 is preferably convex shaped as indicated at 42and extends beyond the protective shell 36, while the rear end portion44 of the bead is substantially flat or preferably slightly concave soas to be readily viewable through the rear sight of the gun as explainedhereinabove. Thus, it will be appreciated that the construction of Fig.4 provides an additional degree of illumination of the bead member whilesubstantially retaining the protective features provided by means of themetal shell enclosing the plastic bead.

Fig. illustrates application of the invention to a barrel type frontsight wherein the sight device comprises a post member 46 mounting abead 48 and a hood 49 concentrically of the bead 48. The head 48 will ofcourse be constructed in accord with the present invention of a suitableluminescent plastic material and will be so shaped as to present fromthe rear view thereof the form of a bright spot of illuminationconcisely margined so as to avoid blurred edge effects. Thus, the beaddevice 48 may comprise a rod of luminescent plastic material partiallyenclosed within a metal shell as explained hereinabove for optimumsupport of the plastic substance while permitting light to enter the barfrom the front end and/or side portions thereof so that the rear endportion of the bead will appear to be illuminated by brilliantly coloredlight even under poor lighting conditions as explained hereinabove. Or,if desired such bead member 48 may be completely exposed since the hood49 provides substantial protection for the bead. Thus, the contrastingappearance of the relatively dark ring 49 of metal and the brilliantlyilluminated bead 48 provides an improved barrel type front sightarrangement whereby sighting an obscure target may be more quicklyeffected, and whereby a finer bead may be drawn upon the target undereven the most adverse lighting conditions and with less strain upon theeyesight of the gunner.

Figs. 6-7 illustrate another form of sight device of the invention whichis of the so-called shotgun type and may be used for either front orfront and rear sight purposes. This sight device comprises a postportion 50 which may be formed of metal or plastic or any other suitablematerial and shaped at its bottom end so as to be either slipfitted orscrewed into a receiving socket formed in the gun barrel. In any casethe post 50 is topped by a parti-spherical sight bead 52 which is formedof luminescent plastic as explained hereinabove; the rear portion of thesight bead being planed off as indicated at 54 either to a perfectlyflat surface or a slightly concave surface facing the line of view ofthe gunner. Thus, the spherically contoured body portion of the bead 52functions as a light gathering lens and the plano or plano-concavesurface 54 functions as a light projecting medium whereby the gunnersees an intensely brilliant spot of concentrated colored light at thesurface 54. It will of course be understood that the surface 54 will beformed of mini mum area so that as fine a bead as possible may be drawnupon the target; and that in view of the features of the invention asexplained hereinabove the sight devices of the invention may beconstructed of smaller size than heretofore while nevertheless providingmore readily visible beads whereby a gun equipped with a sight of theinvention may be quickly aimed even under adverse lighting conditions.

It will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to any gun sightdevice wherein a sighting bead is used, and that although only a fewforms of the sight device of the invention have been shown and describedin detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited but that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A front sight for firearms comprising a support having an eye shapedstrap-like holding element extending from said support and a rod shapedbead formed of luminescent-plasticadapted.to pipe light, said bead beingformed at one end with an exposed spherically shaped light gatheringsurface portion disposed outside of said holding element and at itsother end with an exposed plane shaped light emitting surface, said beadbeing encircled by said holding element and held thereby relative tosaid support.

2. A front sight for firearms comprising a support having an eye shapedstrap-like holding element extending from said support and acylindrically shaped bead formed of luminescent plastic adapted to pipelight, said bead being encircled by said holding element and heldthereby relative to said support, said holding element being dimensionedto terminate short of the opposite ends of said bead thereby exposingthe end portions of said bead.

3. A front sight for firearms comprising a support having an eye shapedstrap like holding element extending from said support and a bead in theform of an elongated body of circular cross section comprisingluminescent plastic adapted to pipe light, said bead being formed at oneend with an exposed spherically shaped light gathering surface disposedoutside of said holding element and at its other end with an exposedlight emitting surface, said bead being encircled by said holdingelement and held thereby relative to said support, said holding elementbeing apertured intermediately of its ends to expose side portions ofsaid bead to external light.

4. A front sight for firearms comprising a support having a strap-likeholding element extending from said support and a bead formed ofluminescent plastic adapted to pipe light, said bead being formed at oneend with an exposed light gathering surface and at its other end with anexposed light emitting surface, said head being encircled by saidholding element and held thereby relative to said support, said holdingelement being apertured intermediately of its ends to expose the side ofsaid bead to external light and terminating short of the ends of saidbead whereby the light gathering and light emitting surfaces of saidbead are exposed and disposed outside of said holding element.

5. A sight comprising a base member adapted to be mounted on a gunbarrel, a neck member extending upwardly from said base member, a sightmember integral with said neck member and having a longitudinal cut-outportion extending adjacent the ends of said sight member forming awindow through which light rays may enter, and a solid substantiallyexposed section of luminescent material secured to said sight member anddisposed within said cut-out portion.

6. A front sight for firearms comprising a support having a strap-likeholding element extending from said support and a bead formed ofluminescent plastic adapted to pipe light, said bead being formed at oneend with an exposed light gathering surface and at its other end with anexposed light emitting surface, said bead being encircled by saidholding element and held thereby relative to said support, said holdingelement being apertured intermediately of its ends to expose the side ofsaid head to external light.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBennett Dec. 28, 1886 Veon Dec. 1, 1896 Watson Sept. 11, 1906 Bigelow eta1. Dec. 29, 1908 Watson June 24, 1919 Dawson et a1. July 13, 1920Spencer Oct. 24, 1922 6 King Mar. 29, 1932 Ganaway Nov. 21, 1939 KelseyOct. 12, 1943 Russell Jan. 18, 1944 Madan Sept. 26, 1944 Neugass May 22,1945 Karnes Nov. 11, 1947 Holme Nov. 22, 1949 Beckerman May 22, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 19, 1919 Great Britain May 30, 1941

